so going home yesturday on the 91 towards RIVERSIDE, i noticed we were all going 80mph (not good since there was a lot of traffic) infront off me was a DODGE CALIBER (i was about 2-3 cars lenght behind him) then a HUNDAI SONATA is just ridding my bumper the whole way (i thought to myself this cant be good, not at this speed) not much i could do bu leave a good gap between the car infront of me and myself... unfortunately someone cut off the CALIBER and i was like F**K. The CALIBER was maybe only a cars lenght from me...( now going about 75 i keep my car in 6th) were still moving, cars changing lanes like no other.. i thought of downshifting to 4th and keeping higher revs (ive notice my car brakes alot better this way) about 10 mins later... i hear tire skidding and see the car infront of the CALIBER take a make a harsh move onto the right lane.... as soon as i see the brake light on the CALIBER i down shift to third and hit the brakes. the CALIBER i guess didnt have enought brake power...and went right past the car infront of him that had jumped onto the right lane. the CALIBER moved onto the carpool lane (we were on the lane nest to carpool) i felt my car really take a nose dip, i gave a quick glance at the SONATA behind me, it was coming in fast even tho i was braking. the SONATA had to also jump into the carpool lane to not hit me... i look on my sideview mirror and see a uhaul smoing his tires in the carpool. i honked at the SONATE who had stop next to me... (i guess he realized the big car behind him and florred it.

this whole thing happened so fast. we went from about 80mph to a dead stop... the SONATA HAD to pick up speed again to keep itself from beeing totalled by the uhaul.

ass i picked up speed again i was going back to the inccident and ralized that MY CAR was the OLNY one that had NO TIRE SKID (i guess due to donshift) and also the only one stopping in time without having to move out of my lane.

forunately for me the SONATA didnt moved to the carpool and didnt rear end me!!!

the smoke coming form the skid on the UHAUL WAS INSANE!!!!

THANKFULLY NOONE WAS HURT!! or crashed ( very surprised by the speed and traffic)

I GOTTA LOVE MY BRAKES AND THE DOWNSHIFT ABILITY!!!

(my guess everyone else was driving auto with no downshift ability to increase brake power)

BTW, BRAKES ON SONATA AND CALIBER WERENT THAT IMPRESSIVE!!!!

 

wow you must of been in a the good part of the 91 because those cone type things that block you from going into the carpool. Glad you or the car didn't get hurt and good job on keeping an eye out on traffic and everyone around you. I just wish everyone else drove like that you know?

 

good to hear you are safe and so what everyone else. The TL has some good brakes, a simple rotor and pad upgrade really helps in my case, but I cannot imagine the amount of improvement you would have from a BBK. Also I'm afraid we can't give you all the credit, the car needs some good tires to stop...

 

how much are those breaks

 

I think for the full setup Front+Rear 900$.

 

hes got a stock 6 MT - brembos come with it stock from the factory - so essentially they were "free"

 

91 sucks!

 

so the stock tires suck?


wow, you live in corona... i just moved out here.

 

dannnnggg

 

Reason you seem to stop better in a lower gear and moderate/high RPM is from "engine braking". The car needs gas to overcome the resitance; no gas, the engine RPM slows down more quickly.

 

454 posts and counting and not one has made any dogg on sense sheesh


anyway glad you didn't wreck, your description was pretty damn good I was all reading and picturing shit...

I never ride the pack tho... if I am doing 80 and everyone else is doing 80 I speed up, hate driving with cars near me because you never know what the one infront of you is doing ie. on the cellphone

 

Wow that was tough to read.

Yeah, engine braking helped you slow down man. Plus your TL has brembo's and ABS, and I'd assume a decent set of tires. From those cars you mentioned I doubt they had aftermarket brake kits (yes I know the 6spd TL came with brembo's from the factory), ABS is anyone's guess and usually people with "cheap" cars go cheap on tires too.

But yeah, it makes sense engine braking may have helped.

 

Thread title...


Downshift Ability...wow...gtfoh

-Jason

 

Glad you made it out safely. Not knocking your technique or anything but I would have let the ABS and the Brembos do their job and not worry about downshifting in that situation. The best thing for me is to anticipate stuff like that and have an escape plan ready. Like the other poster said, I never ride in groups doing 80 or more. Too many cell phone yappers makes me nervous.

 

GUYS FUNNY THING IS I HAVE A HABBIT OF SWITCHING OFF VSA!!! I DIDNT THAT DAY!!!